Archived press release

TTF Brazil Trip

8 August 1995

Friends of the Earth Disputes the Findings of the TTF's Visit to Brazil

Following meetings in Brazil with rubber tappers, Brazilian NGOs and the Ministry of Environment, Friends of the Earth can confirm that the predatory logging of mahogany remains out of control throughout the Brazilian Amazon. These findings are also partially confirmed by the TTF following its recent visit to Brazil [1].

For instance, the TTF confirmed last week that illegal logging continues and reported that an auction of illegally obtained timber had recently taken place.

The TTF states that it is seeking only evidence of stronger controls on the trade whilst FOE is calling for better enforcement.

One of the intentions of Michael James' (of the TTF) visit to Brazil was to look at how to strengthen a trade agreement between AIMEX and the National Hardwood Association to only trade in legally obtained wood. However, the AIMEX agreement does not cover the whole timber trade [2]. FOE also believes that the current structure of IBAMA [3], which the TTF believes can improve its monitoring systems, cannot accomodate the effective changes required to control the trade.

The TTF also stated that it hopes that all future Forest Management Plans have formal clearance by FUNAI - the national Indian agency. However, FUNAI's ability to work effectively is already severely hampered by a lack of resources and powers will remain ineffectual without greater enforcement capacity, especially in the Indian reserves where illegal logging continues.

During a meeting with FOE, the Executive Secretary of the Environment Ministry admitted that the illegal logging of mahogany was still a major problem [4] and her attempts to deal with it were obstructed by red tape and the fact that the illegal logging occurs over such a vast area.

Sarah Tyack, Mahogany Campaigner for FOE who has just returned from Brasilia having attended the National Council of Rubber Tappers 10th Anniversary meeting said:

The rubber tappers who live in the rainforests remain firm that at present there is no such thing as sustainable logging. Present controls and inspections cover only a fraction of the area where logging is taking place. As loggers are moving into new areas, a moratorium on the mahogany trade is the only way to create the necessary breathing space for effective control measures and sustainable alternatives to be found.

Sarah Tyack continued:

We want an end to illegal logging by effective enforcement. Yet again, FOE is calling on the TTF not to rely on a voluntary gentleman's agreement' to control the trade. The Federation must cease trading with any company implicated with illegal logging and must press for better enforcement, rather than yet more unreliable document chains'.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The Timber Trade Federation on July 25th 1995 released information from their recent visit to Brazil which outlined the intention of the Brazilian Government to strengthen systems which ensure timber has come from areas covered by approved Forest Management Plans or official permits.

[2] In 1993, logging companies in the State of Para and timber exporting companies in the UK signed an agreement (known as the AIMEX/NHA agreement) promising only to trade in legally obtained mahogany. The agreement is voluntary and is not legally binding. However, FOE has evidence that the illegal logging has continued since then. Human rights campaigners in Brazil have had to obtain a Federal Court injunction banning logging companies from cutting illegally in protected Indian reserves.

[3] IBAMA is the Brazilian Government Environment Agency (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Resurses Naturais Renovais)

[4] As legal concessions of mahogany stands become more depleted, loggers are invading Indian reserves in order to log the mahogany. Under the Brazilian Constitution the resources on these reserves belong to the Indians and extraction of timber is illegal.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust